walking vprightly as farre as they see when indeed their walking is so farre from vprightnes that when God calls and cryes vnto them and stretches out his hand vnto them all the day long by that measure of means which he affoordeth them Rom. 10.21 they still gaine-say him and are rebellious against him But their obiection is That all they that are ignorant and either by wordes or workes deny Christ and worship Idols and see no further but thinke they doe well they shall be excused to which ignorant conceit wee must say something Ignorance shall not excuse any that liue in Idolatry and doe not obey the Sonne of God THough it be sufficient that the Lord hath pronounced these Iudgements against such as beleeue not in and obey not his Sonne but are Idolaters without exception of ignorant or not ignorant yet that the truth of the Lord may shine herein as the light at noone day wee haue endeauored to take away this their obiection also that in particular words That ignorance is sinne it appeareth by those ceremoniall sacrifices of attonement which were offered for it Leuit. 4.13 c. 22.27 5.2.5.15.17 Heb. 9.7 and the wages of all sinne is Death Also the Lord saith Harden not your hearts as in Meribah and Massah where your Fathers tempted me c. though they had seene my worke forty yeares haue I contended with this generation and said they are a people that erre in their heart for they haue not knowne my wayes therefore I sware in my wrath Psal 95.8 c. Hosea 4.6 surely they shall not enter into my rest And my people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge And our Sauiour teacheth That if the ignorant lead the ignorant Mar. 15.14 both shall fall into the ditch And hee that knew not his masters will Luk. 12.48 and yet did thinges worthy of stripes hee shall be beaten And they that kill Christs Disciples Ioh. 16.1 shall thinke they doe God seruice because they neither knew God nor Christ which to know is Eternall life Ioh. 17.3 Peter through his ignorance aduised Christ not to suffer for which he had a most sharp reproofe Get thee behind me Sathan Mat. 16.23 thou vnderstandest not the thinges of God Againe I know Brethren yee did it through ignorance Repent Act. 3.17 that your sinnes may bee put away The Gentiles that regarded not to know God by his wonderfull workes the Heauens and Earth Psal 19. which preach and teach day and night to euery speach and language and giueth euery reasonable soule vnder Heauen a measure of knowledge because they regarded not to know God Rom. 1.28 God deliuered them vp to a reprobate mind And the Iewes had the zeale of God yet not according to knowledge for they being ignorant of the righteousnes of God Rom. 10.2 they found it not And Christ Iesus shall render vengeance in flaming fire vnto them that doe not know God and obey not the Gospell 2. Thes 1.8.9 And those that through the signes and lying wonders of the man of Sinne are deceiued 2. Thes 2.10 c. they shall perish and bee damned because they receiued not the loue of the Truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes What store of testimonies are in this thing If men doe euill though of ignorance for the same shall not enter into Gods rest but be destroyed fall into the pit be beaten be deliuered vp to a reprobate minde haue flaming Fire rendred vpon them and be damned all which the mouth of the Lord hath spoken If any notwithstanding all this will yet say Ignorance shall excuse any 1. Cor. 14.38 wee will answer with th'Apostle If any bee ignorant let them be ignorant and taste the reward thereof The cause of Ignorance is hardnes of hart and vnbeliefe and not the want of means as is plaine If our Gospell be hid that is if any be ignorant of it it is hid to them that perish 2. Cor. 4.3 c. in whome the God of this world hath blinded their mindes that is of the vnbeleeuers c. And they being strangers from the life of God Ephes 4.18 through the Ignorance that is in them because of the hardnes of their hearts So that vnbeliefe and hardnes of heart is the cause of Ignorance and ignorance maketh men strangers from the life of God Paul did it ignorantly through vnbeliefe 1. Tim. 1 13 All haue or might haue meanes enough had they vsed that well which they had And whereas they affirme it to be iniustice in God to condemne all the Nations of the earth that haue beene or are ignorant of Christ Wee answer though it be plaine that Christ is manifest by a measure of meanes to euery reasonable Creature vnder Heauen Col. 1.6.23 For haue they not heard Rom. 10.18 yet in this th'Apostle affirmeth Gods iustice appeareth that such as had but the inuisiblenes of God declared in the Creation of the Heauens and the Earth Rom. 1.19 c. which teach knowledge Day and Night whose voyce is heard in euery Language vnder Heauen they regarded not to know God by the same Psal 1.1 c God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde If any yet demaund why the Cannibals know no more the Apostle answeres Because they regarded not to know God by that they had Hath not God promised that if any seeke they shall finde Math. 7.7 What made the Wise men of the East to finde the Babe Christ but their diligent seeking Math. 2.1 Men finde not because they seeke not Iam. 4.2 wee need not goe amongst the greatest Pagans we shall find too many who know not God nor Christ in our owne Nation now the same cause they haue no knowledge that is the cause why the Cānibals haue no knowledge namely because they seeke not The Iewes had meanes enough yet were they ignorant of the way of God and God was found of those that in comparison sought not after him Rō 10.20 That none need be ignorant read these Scriptures Deut. 30.11 Rom. 10.6 c. 18.20 Math. 7.7 Iam. 4.2.3 Some also obiect Act. 17.30 In the time of that ignorance God regarded not c. From hence they conceiue that God regarded not to punish Ignorance but let the place be considered and it doth effectually conuince that conceit Th' Apostle Paul cōming to Athens and beholding the blinde Deuotion of the Athenians and reprouing them for the same enformeth them of the true God whome saith he you ignorantly worship him shew I vnto you and hauing shewed them what that God was and what he was not how he would be worshipped and how he would not concludeth with these words In the time of that Ignorance God regarded not but now he admonisheth all men euery where to repent c. In the time of Ignorance God had no regard of your blinde Deuotion but now in
mysterie so cloaked that few perceiue it Why should it be strange to any Godly man 2. Cor. 11.14 that seeing the Deuill transformeth himselfe into an Angell of Light and that so doe his ministers and perceiuing that by falshood onely he cannot continue his hellish courses of deceiuings that he should suffer many or diuers truthes to passe that vnder them he might colour all his falshood neuer false Prophet of whom we read of in the Scriptures but they had some truths mixed with their falshoods to make them more passable but let Gods people be wise to try them that say make such great shew that they are Prophets and are not but doe lye and let them declare vnto them that their end shall be according to their worke Vers 15. And whosoeuer will not receiue the loue of the truth by those meanes that God hath appointed but will goe to enquire for God and his Truth at the mouth of false Prophets because of some truth they teach It is iust with the Lord 2. Thes 2.51.12 to giue such vp to strong delusions that they may beleeue their lyes and be damned And again none can heare or receiue any truth from them but therein they heare and receiue the Deuill by whose power they teach as before is proued Besides they must also swallow vp all their falshood and be silent when they heare the Lord Iesus in his holy Truthes blasphemed Thus it is apparant neither hearing nor any other Spirituall action may be performed with the Body in which the heart and affections is not present contrary to this execrable and hypocriticall Doctrine of the Familists Hauing now clearely refelled all the obiections of the hatefull courses of these Baalamites and Nicholaitans of prostrating the body at any Worship although it be the Gentiles that sacrifice to Deuils not to God or any other that although in words they professe God yet in workes they deny him We may now proceed to other of their taxations of vs. Fourthly yee submit not to Christs ministery namely those which liue and teach according to Gods word and the Booke of Cōmon prayer IN answering of which First let it be obserued who they account Christs Ministers concerning which thus they speake To bee called of God is to be raised vp to the worke of the Ministery replenished with guifts necessary thereunto and to goe out vnder that outward forme which God in that age wherein hee liueth hath ordamed viz. That outward forme which the Magistrate appointeth in Turkie Rome or elsewhere So that with these Elimasses they are called of God to the worke of the Ministery that haue ability to Preach and goe out vnder the outward forme of Turkie Rome c. Which to submit vnto or haue fellowship with in any of their Spirituall seruices so much as in hearing them to receiue any Spirituall good from them or any other lying Prophets that runne and God sends them not is vtterly forbidden as plentifully hath beene proued But the Ministery of Christ which is appointed in his perfect Testament to wit the Ministery of Pastors and Deacons Phil. 1.1 1. Tim. 3. c. we doe submit vnto with all reuerence in all things according to the word of God And for their mentioning the Booke of Common Prayer this is but to colour their hypocrisre that they might haue respect with authority for they might aswell haue mentioned the Romish Masse-booke or the Turkish Alchoran as it For they affirme that all Religions are lawfull if Authority commaund them Seruant of M.P. in his natural wise man 2. Booke sect 14. In these wordes Euen so because of Gods peace yee shall submit your selues vnto all manner of Religion set vp by Lawes wherein there is a pretence of Godlinesse for all sortes of people cannot attaine vnto the true God seruice at the first Therefore yee shall not onely obey all Religions not dispising the Turkes because of their vnbeliefe but also yee shall submit your selues vnto all Lawes and Authority of the Prince from time to time like obedient peaceable people Considering we are not appointed of God as Law-makers and wee must be no Law-breakers but Lawkeepers for if we breake the Law and dye therefore are we not guilty of our owne Blood yes verily Againe thus There are many vanityes vsed in the world The same in 2. Reformation sect 10. and it is both needfull and necessary for vs sometimes to vse our selues after their manner to liue in peace with them c. Fiftly yee deny the Distinct degrees of Christs Ministery Answ YEe lyers are of your Father the Deuill wee acknowledge the distinct degrees of Christs Ministery as before but we deny the degrees of the Ministery of Mahomet and the Anti-christ Rome-and all other that are not heard of in Christs Testament Sixtly some of you take in hand Ministeriall workes whereas not any one of you is called of God thereunto Answ VVHat it is to be called of God with these Familists we haue formerly shewed to wit to be raised vp to be guifted and to haue that outward forme of calling which the Magistrates in Turkie or else where ordaineth Wee acknowledge that whosoeuer doth take in hand any Ministeriall worke and is not raised vp of God thereunto and replenished with necessary guiftes to the same they doe most fearefully transgresse Our Consciences are cleare herein that none can iustly taxe vs but for going out vnder that outward forme the Familists speake of we doe detest it as the Deuill whose reuelation it is vnto H. N. and his cursed followers The true Ministers of the Gospell are not Ministers of men nor by men but by Iesus Christ Gal. 1.1 neither by his immediate voyce from Heauen or by that way which he hath ordained in his Testament * 1. Tim. 3. Tit. 1. and other outward formes for any Minister of Christ know we none Seauenthly some of you take in hand to Prophesie whereas yee are all without the testimony of Iesus Answ THat wee are all without the testimony of H. Ns Iesus or Sauiour which is the estate of perfection in the louely being or vpright righteousnes as he calleth his Doctrine vnto which onely his illuminate Elders doe attaine which he calleth Iesus Christ as before is proued we freely acknowledge and doe much loath and detest that deuillish fiction but the testimony of the true Iesus Christ God ouer all and true man like vs in all thinges excepting sinne we blesse his Name we haue and purpose to holde fast vnto the Death of which besides what heere we haue said we are ready to render a reason to any that shall require it Eightly yee are totally ignorant of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. Answ VVEE freely confesse if H. Ns. knowledge of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. be true we are totally ignorant of them Therefore we will in short set downe from their owne mouthes and Pens what they vnderstand of diuers
peruert Heb. 6. and other holy Scriptures to their owne destruction Hauing now discouered some of H. Ns. principles The summe of the true Faith wee will in short set downe our Faith concerning these 6. Principles Heb. 6. First of Repentance from dead workes we doe beleeue that euery transgression of any Law of God is sinne 1. Ioh. 3.4 Rom. 6.23 and the wages of euery sinne is Death and so a dead worke That no man by reason of weake Flesh can keepe the Law Rom. 8.3 and therefore by transgression becommeth dead in Sinne Ephe. 2.1.3 and so by weake Nature the Childe of wrath For the Law causeth wrath Rom. 4.15 for where no Law is there is no transgression but the power of Gods word contained in the holy Scriptures 1. Cor. 15.34 Ephes 5.14 and not the Reuelations or Dreames of H.N. nor any others awaking man and setting his sinnes in order before him and the fearefull terror of Gods wrath against him Act. 2.37 16.30 Act. 2.38 3.19 causeth man to be pricked in his heart and to cry out what shall wee doe to be saued To which God answereth Repent of thy sinnes confesse them sorrow for them and reforme them But man seeing by the same holy Scripture that this his repentance or any other thing that he can doe cannot appease Gods wrath nor satisfie his Iustice for his sinne he is inuited hereupon to flye vnto Gods Grace by the Redemptiō purchased through the blood of his Sonne who is God ouer all and tooke our Nature vpon him and became Man Dyed for vs and is risen againe in his Body ascended into Heauen sitting at the right hand of his Father making intercession for his seruants euen for all that obey him Heb. 5.9 through whom alone wee haue Redemption euen the forgiuenes of our sinnes 2. Thus by Faith in the Blood of Christ is this Sinner sprinckled in his heart from an euill Conscience Heb. 10.22 and must also be washed in his Body with pure water 3. This is the Baptisme that saueth not onely the washing away the filth of the Flesh but in that a good Conscience maketh request vnto God 1. Pet. 3.21 by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ Yet not onely the good Conscience is Baptisme but also washing with materiall water into the Name of the Father c. For to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen which is the estate of Grace or true Christianity in this life called the Kingdome of Heauen Ioh. 3.5 Ephes 4.5 Wee must haue Water and Spirit Christ hath coupled them together as his one Baptisme and let no man seperate them 4. By laying on of handes wee conceiue is meant the whole ministery of the Church which consisteth of those Offices mentioned in Christs Testament All which are to be entred into by laying on of hands as these Scriptures teach * Act. 6.6 13.3 For other laying on of hands by which extraordinary guiftes were communicated vnto men wee vnderstand they were myracles giuen of God in the primitiue Church for the confirmation of the Apostles authority who taught thinges that neuer before were taught Heb. 2.5 which that they might be credited they did such thinges as neuer men did And if any Familist can doe Myracles as did th Apostles thē might they haue had some colour to write and bring into the world new Gospels as they are not ashamed to doe 5. Concerning the Resurrection from the Dead We beleeue that our soules shall be seperated from our bodies by naturall Death That the Body returnes to earth whence it came and the Spirit to God that gaue it Eccles 12.7 1. Cor. 15. vntill the day that Iesus Christ shall come againe to Iudge quicke and dead Then shall our Bodies rise againe euen these bodies Ioh. 19.25 c. and with these eyes shall wee see our Redeemer Lastly we doe beleeue and looke for to our great reioycing the blessed appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ to that Eternall iudgement wherein hee shall Iudge both quicke and dead according to their works done in this Flesh 2 Cor. 5.10 whether they be good or euill Reuel 20.12 to an Eternall being to wit Them that by continuance in wel-doing seeke glory and Immortality Rō 2.7 c. 1. Thes 4.17 Rom. 2.8 they shall come to Eternall Life where they shall bee euer with the Lord. But those that are contentious and disobey the Truth and obeyes vnrighteousnes haue done euill and haue not repented thereof They shall come forth to the resurrection of condemnation Ioh. 5.29 indignation and wrath shall bee vpon them burning in the Lake for euermore with the Deuill and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Now let all Iudge whether wee be totally ignorant of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. as these accusers doe suggest or rather that themselues are not only ignorant of them for if they were their sinne were the lesse but they deny them and that after their enlightning The 9. transgression they accuse vs of is Ninthly you will not bee reformed by the Light which God hath manifested in these latter times and whereof much is in the Booke of Common Prayer and in the Homilies and in the Booke of Ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons Answ VVEE hauing asked some of them what Light this is that in these latter times God hath manifested for we conceiue God neuer spake nor euer will after his speaking by his Sonne in these last dayes who by himselfe and his Apostles hath deliuered all the Counsell of God sealing it vp with these sentences If wee or an Angell from Heauen teach any otherwise then we haue Preached Gal. 1.8 9. let him bee accursed And if any adde to what they haue done Reuel 22.18.19 God will adde the plagues written by them or if any take away any of those their wordes God will take away their names out of the Booke of Life we say we hauing asked them concerning these thinges they haue answered vs God hath spoken to the world at three seuerall times First by Moses and the Fathers 2. By Christ and the Apostles And thirdly by an euerlasting Gospell in these last dayes alledging Reuel 14. Which what Gospell should it bee but the Gospell of the Kingdome which H. N. hath published to the world in which many of his poysoned Doctrines is broached concerning which hee hath giuen himselfe a stately stile farre exceeding the Apostles in all their writings full of blasphemies which is this H. N. through the Grace and mercy of God Euang. Peg. Cap. 1. and through the holy Spirit of the loue of Iesu Christ raised vp by the highest God from the Death according to the prouidence of God and his Promises annoynted with the Holy Ghost in the olde age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ Godded with God in the Spirit of his loue made heyre with Christ in the heauenly goods of
speake sharply to them but consider the causes thereof They haue bene and are the greatest enemies of righteousnes that euer were faining a God and a Christ according to their owne fleshly hearts and haue more peruerted the straight way of the Lord then euer did any and therefore we hauing Christ and his Apostles for our example herein wee trust none will condemne vs but those that are touched for if any be offended at this our Discouery it is testimony sufficient what they are wee mention the names of none least they should haue colour to say we persecute them The wicked and hypocriticall Scribes and Pharises for whom was reserued the damnation of Hell Elimas the Sorcerer Mat. 23.33 Iannes and Iambres Hymeneus Philetus and all the rest whose fearefull iudgements are written are not so wicked in their blasphemies as these are as shall plainely appeare and therefore let all pronounce against them the iudgements that are written that others may heare and feare and doe no more such wickednes It is meerly for want of loue of the Truth that men are giuen vp to such fearefull delusions from which that we may be deliuered let vs follow the Truth and that in loue which truth is contained in the holy Scriptures and not in the Dreames of H.N. or any other Heb. 1.2 In these last dayes the Father hath spoken by his Son Iesus Christ who was faithfull as Moses Heb. 3.2 Act. 3.22 Mat. 17.5 Act. 3.23 Gal. 1.8 Moses sends vs to him The Father sends vs to him And hee that will not heare this Prophet shall be destroyed And cursed shall he be that teacheth otherwise then hee hath taught by himselfe his Apostles And his Name shall be taken out of the booke of Life that taketh from it Reuel 22.18.19 and the plagues which are writen shal be added to him that addeth to the wordes of this Sonne of God All which the Lords mouth hath spoken Thus haue we taken this paines for the sake of those that are ignorant of these things to the and that they seeing the Pit may be warned and saued from falling into it which God for his Christs sake Grant to euery soule Amen 〈…〉 A DISCOVERIE OF THE FAMILY OF LOVE THE wisedome of GOD not only forewarneth plentifully in the Scriptures To take heed of false Prophets Math. 7.15 and deceiuers in that many are gone out into the world 1. Ioh. 4.1 but also teacheth to make their madnes manifest to all men 2. Tim. 3.9 that their deceits and craftinesse whereby they lye in wait to deceiue being made known all may be preserued from their snare and bee able to denounce against them the Iudgements which are written Psal 149.9 Our Sauiour telleth vs that after the shortning of those dreadfull dayes of the abhomination of Desolation men shall say Loe heere is Christ loe there is Christ but beleeue them not Math. 24.22 c. goe not thither neither follow them And if any shall say he is in a Desert or in a secret place Goe not forth beleeue it not For as the Lightning commeth out of the East and is seene vnto the West so shall the comming of the Sonne of man bee euen that bright Comming spoken of 2. Thes 2.8 For the consuming of that man of Sinne. Where plainely wee are taught that the way of the Lord IESVS in the Gospell is plaine and manifest Esa 42.16 For he will leade the Blinde by the way that they knew not and will make darknes Light before them and crooked thinges straight and the light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sunne Esa 30.26 and the light of the Sunne shall be 7. fold and as the light of 7. Dayes in the day that the Lord will binde vp the breach of his people and heale the stroake of their wound and thither must men goe that will finde Christ indeed For all his wayes are plaine to him that will vnderstand Pro. 8.9 and straight to them that would finde knowledge Pro. 14.6 and his Wisdome is easie to him that will vnderstand But where obscurity and darknesse is a people of a darke speach that thou canst not perceiue and of a stammering tongue that thou canst not vnderstand thither must wee not goe nor such must we not follow Pro. 5.5 c For the pathes of a strange woman are moueable thou canst not know them keepe thy way farre from her and come not neare the doore of her house for her feete goe downe to Death and her steps take holde on Hell shee waigheth not the way of Life This were sufficient if there were no more to diswade all that will not wilfully perish from harkening vnto beleeuing or following those most obscure intricate and tedious deceipts of that people followers of that oldest Elder or ancient deceiuer Henry Nicholas who tearme themselues the family of Loue whose execrable blasphemies are broached so obscurely both by words and writings as hath been alwayes obserued by those that haue had to do with them that the depth of Sathan in them is of many not easily discerned Most true it is they haue much more poysoned this Kingdome in former times then of late yeares at which times diuers discoueries and confutations hath beene made but seeing now they spring afresh and that they haue destroyed the Faith of certain neare deare vnto vs as also that they haue challenged some of vs with great boasts and brags to combat with them and haue in Writing vnder their hands testified that we walke in so many euils the particulars whereof are hereafter named and answered that none fearing God may haue any fellowship with vs. In consideration of all which and to testifie our vnfained detestation of their profession as also to cleare our selues of their vniust accusations we trust no indifferent person will judge of vs otherwise thē wel for thus publickly dealing with them Therfore in the feare of God with reuerence of his Sacred mysteries with vnfained humiliation of our vnworthines with loue to Gods truth and a harty detestatiō of that which is euil we will proceed only to deale in such things as we haue by the now Family or their fauorites beene prouoked vnto And first of their Christ That they holde another Christ then the man Christ Iesus who gaue himselfe a Ransome for all men not onely H. N. hath published but also the present Family in England doe with stifnes iustifie H. N. and the Familyes Christ First H.N. their oldest Elder or rather their God as shall plainly appeare hath thus written This same true light is the Annoynted with the Holy Ghost Euang. Reg. Cap. 13. sect 2. which annoynted in Hebrew is named Messias and in Greeke Christus he was also in times past called of certain Rabbins among the Iewes H. N. Christ the perfection the Lord his Saboth And they say that the same Annoynted is
the 7th day in the Paradice of God wherein God rested from all his workes and is the Perfection the which also is very true c. And in the same Chap. thus Oh that they yet now awaked and tooke heede in the worde of the seruice of Loue vnto this Gracious time The word of the seruice of Loue is the Christ and gaue eare vnto the same that they might vnderstand their safe making and so then bee rightly and according to the truth brought into the true being that is vnto Christ And againe speaking in praise of the Romish Priests thus Therefore they were ioyned with others in the seruice of the Holyworde Euang Reg. Cap. 3. sect 14. because they let passe the child-hood or the youngnes of the holy vnderstanding and grew vp according to the requiring of the seruice of Loue The perfectiō of the oldest Father is H. N's Christ vnto the manly agednesse of Christ that is vnto the true being of the oldest and holyest Father And againe thus Hereunto serue the Parish Priests as to such procurators or helpers forward of the Communalties Euang. Chap. 14. sect 16. for to beare a good care ouer them and to witnes and teach them dayly the holy vnderstanding of Christ the oldest Father Also thus First exhort of H.N. cap. 12. sect 22.34 If yee will not that the wrath of God come or fall vpon you so deale faithfully before God and his holynesse and walke with your Spirit in the louely and vertuous being fasten your mindes thereto and build your righteousnes thereon for that is an eternall fast standing foundation whereon all Gods Prophets and holy ones haue builded and is Christ himselfe So that H. N's Christ is plainly by his owne testimony The perfection in the Louely being whereunto his Elders doe attaine and not the man Christ Concerning whome he thus writeth Oh alas how great Contention and vnprofitable Disputations hath there beene Euan. cap. 18 sect 17. concerning the Conception of Iesus Christ in the wombe of Mary and touching his Birth but if they all which contended hereabout had knowne the power of God and that also the mystery of the minde and workes of God had beene giuen them to vnderstand so should they thē verily not haue contended thereabout For his Successor writeth thus Where it is come to passe that all riches of the Spirit is gone cleane away The salutation of M. P. called the last trumpt sect 12. c. there the minde is become a poore widdow and the same widdow bringeth forth a Mayden to light which will conceiue the holy thing comming of the holy Ghost for then the power of the highest shall ouershadow the same Virgin and she shall thereby conceiue God with vs euen the deliuerer from all thraldome and bondage We might alledge much more of their intricate and tedious stuffo but it is wearisome According to which damnable Doctrine his now followers affirme That men may bee saued by the workes of the Law without knowledge or Faith in the blood of the man Christ Iesus yea they holde it a meere fable and speake of it with great contempt that we looke for justification with God in and through another that we looke for justification without vs that we speake of imputatiue righteousnes that wee holde justification by beleeuing for in truth they doe not hold that Christs Death bloodshed hath purchased any man but that he was an example to vs and such like for they holde that those Gentiles Rom. 2. kept the Law which say they was the Christ within them and those by this Christ namely by keeping the Law were justified Which detestable blasphemies of H.N. and his followers of making Christ to be a power and perfection in man which is his justification might rather be wondred at then confuted were it not that the Deuill in his instruments transformeth himselfe into an Angell of light to deceiue the hearts of the simple for whose cause we haue endeauored to say something What Iesus Christ is for whome hee hath endured all his sufferings without Faith in whome no soule can haue saluation THat Iesus signifieth a Sauiour Math. 1 2◠and Christ annoynted so that he is the annoynted Sauiour to saue his people from their sinnes is sufficiently knowne euery where in the Scripture And although hee be God ouer all Blessed for euer yet also is he true man ordayned before the foundation of the world promised to Adam when he had sinned and to Abraham and the Fathers The Prophets also declare the certainty hereof A Virgin shall Conceiue and beare a Sonne Esa 7.14 and shee shall call his name God with vs. Vnto vs a Childe is borne vnto vs a Sonne is giuen Esa 9.6 hee shall call his name Wonderfull Counsellor the mighty God c. And a Woman shall compasse a man Ier. 31.22 And in the fulnesse of time God sent his Son made of a Woman c. This Sonne of God thus made Flesh dwelt dmong vs being sent of the Father to declare and doe his will in which estate being like to vs in all thinges Sinne excepted he suffered not onely the cursed Death of the Crosse Reuel 19.15 but also trode the winepresse of the wrath of God the agony of which was so great that he not onely sweat drops of Blood but also cryed Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and if it be possible let this Cup passe from me This being the true Iesus Christ that came by Water Blood 1. Ioh. 5.6 witnessed by the Spirit of truth thus ordayned promised Prophesied of and performed And now if it bee proued that what he did hee did it in Obedience to his Father yet for the benefit of others that without the knowledge of and Faith in him no soule euer was or can be saued we say if these thinges be plainely proued that cursed fiction of the Christ of H. N. and his followers will appeare to be most abhominable Therefore first will wee proue that Christs sufferings were for others That hee dyed for sinne is manifest That himselfe had no sinne is as manifest therefore of necessity he must dye for the sinnes of others That he dyed for sinne is proued Yet the Lord would breake him and make him subject to infirmities when hee shall make his soule an Offering for sinne c. Esa 53.10 Heb. 9.10 c. 1. Pet. 3.18 All the sinne Offerings were types of his sufferings for Sinne and he once suffered for sinnes That hee had no sinne himselfe is proued Though he had done no wickednes neither was any deceit in his mouth Esa 53.9 2. Cor. 5.21 For hee hath made him to be Sinne for vs that knewe no sinne c. But was in all thinges tempted in like sort Heb. 4.15 yet without Sinne 1. Pet. 1.19 and 2.22 He was that Lambe of God vndefiled and without spot
vnto themselues which shew the effect of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing witnes and their thoughts accusing one another or excusing From hence they cōsidently affirme that these Gentiles knewe not the man Christ nor beleeued on him yet kept the Law and thereby were iustified before God and because the Scriptures which they pretend to alledge to colour their deceits doth so plentifully declare vnto vs a Christ therefore they say This is the Christ for you must not imagine that they say that any man can be saued without Christ yet they intend nothing lesse in that saying then that any are saued through the purchase of the Blood of that man Christ apprehended by Faith for that they count an idle Fiction their euill Consciences know we wrong them not herein for we relate no more then what some of them haue vttered in which we haue vsed much meanes to procure their reuocation of that their cursed conceit that so we might not be constrained to publish it but they waxe worse and worse euery day in their delusions Now to shew how they peruert this Scripture to their destruction let it be well obserued what th'Apostle aymeth at in this place Paul being the messenger of the ioyfull tidings of Christ to the Gentiles Rom. 1. cap. in the former Chap. plainely conuinceth all the Gentiles to be vnder the wrath of God that by not making right vse of that knowledge which God afforded them by the inuisiblenes of his eternall power and Godhead manifested and shewed vnto them by the wonderfull Creation of the world which was sufficient to make them without excuse Psalm 19. in that the Heauens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament shew the workes of his hands Day vnto day vtter the same and Night vnto Night teach they knowledge there is no speach nor Language where their voyce is not heard The Gentiles we say knowing God by these his wonders yet glorified him not as God neither were thankefull but became vaine in their Imaginations and their foolish heart was full of darknes when they professed themselues to be wise they became fooles for they turned the Glory of the incorruptible God into seuerall Idols wherefore God gaue them vp to their owne hearts lusts c. they turning the truth of God vnto a lye worshipping and seruing the creature aboue the Creator and so not regarding to know God further by that meanes they had God deliuered them vp to a reprobate mind c. Th' Apostle hauing now conuinced the Gentiles prouing them to be vnder the wrath of God he concludeth O man whosoeuer thou art thou art inexcusable Cap. 2.1 euen as well Gentiles as Iewes and Iewes as Gentiles which also in the 2. Chap. he goeth about to proue For his feruent desire of the saluatiō of the Iewes maketh him to declare the estate of the Iewes to be as bad or worse then the Gentiles that they might see it be humbled and flye vnto Iesus Christ for although Circumcision in it time was profitable if they kept the Law yet if they transgressed the Law their Circumcision was counted as no circumcision And the vncircumcision saith th'Apostle if they keepe the Law shall not their vncircumcision bee counted for Circumcision Vers 26 This was the glory of the Iew that he was called a Iew rested in the Law gloried in God knew his will c. This the Apostle seeketh to bring downe by shewing them that they that taught others should haue taught themselues saying Vers 23 Thou that gloriest in the Law through breaking the Law dishonorest thou God For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as is written c. Hauing now also conuinced the Iew comparing the estate of the Iew and Gentile together both which had the Law th' one in the hart the Letter th' other in the heart but not in the Letter he affirmeth that the Gentiles did those things by nature which the Iewes did not obserue by the Letter whereby they were more excusable then the Iew being only a comparatiue speach which is very vsuall * Ioh. 6.27 Ioh. 3.32 Luk. 14.26 1. Ioh. 2.15 in the Scriptures not that either of them were iustified before God for by nature or Flesh it is not possible to keep the Law because it is weake by the works of the Law none can be iustified in his sight The Apostle hauing thus done demandeth this question What then are wee Iewes more excellent Rom. 3.9 No in no wise for wee haue already proued that all both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne as it is written There is none righteous no not one Vers 19 c. Now we knowe that whatsoeuer the Law saith it saith it to them that are vnder the Law that euery mouth may be stopped and all the world bee culpable before God Vers 20 Therefore by the workes of the Law no Flesh shall be iustified in his fight But now is the Iustice of God made manifest without the Law hauing the witnes of the Law and of the Prophets to wit Vers 21 the Iustice of God by the Faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon all that beleeue For there is no difference Vers 23 for all haue sinned and are depriued of the glory of God and are iustified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Iesus c. And that he might bee a Iustifier of him that is of the Faith of Iesus Vers 26 Therfore saith the Apostle Wee conclude Vers 28 that a man is iustified by Faith without the workes of the Law wee doe not make the Law of none effect through Faith Vers 31 wee establish the Law For is the Law against the Promise of God God forbid Gal. 3.21 For if there had beene a Law giuen which could haue giuen Life righteousnes had beene by the Law Vers 22 But the Scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne that the promise by the Faith of Iesus Christ should be giuen to them that Beleeue Gal. 3.26 c. All are the sonnes of God by Faith in Christ Iesus there is neither Iew nor Grecian bond nor free male nor female but all are one in Christ Iesus Whosoeuer is iustified by the Law Christ shall profit them nothing If men for want of loue of the Truth were not giuen vp by God to strange delusions of the Deuill they would acknowledge their horrible error herein giue glory to God submit to his truth and confesse that this in the Gentiles Rom. 2. is Law not Faith Nature not Grace They say these were iustified before God by keeping the Law but you see how plainely God contradicteth it Gods Iustice is manifest without the Law and the Law cannot giue Life These Spirits say They did that by Nature which made them iust with God when as God saith Nature maketh vs the Children of wrath Ephes 2.3 because it cannot keepe the
the riches of God Illuminated in the Spirit with the heauenly truth the true light of the perfect being elected to a Minister of the gracious word which is now in the last time raised vp by God according to his promises in the most holy Seruice of God vnder the Obedience of his Loue. The blasphemies of whose writings are so grosse as these wretches are very strait to whom they affirme that this euerlasting Gospell is H. Ns. the Light which God hath manifested in these last dayes yet apparantly it is it and no other For they speake plainely to whom they dare trust as they know wee well know and disperse his Bookes to those in whom they haue some hopes requiring most solemne protestations that they shall not let any see them who they know to be aduerse * For often they write keepe secrets from vnbeleeuers So that it is plaine this light which they much boast of and haue tolde many of vs of is this Gospell of H. N. which is so farre from light being compared with the holy Scriptures that it is damnable darknes from which we trust our God will alwayes keepe vs. But they tell vs much of it is in the Booke of Common prayer in the Booke of Homilies and in the booke of ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons wherein all may see these hypocrites still would shelter themselues vnder Authority though it be a manifestation to all of their owne hypocrisie and of the horrible defamation of the Common prayer Booke for as wee said before they respect the Common prayer booke and the rest no more then they respect the Popish Masse-booke nor the Turkish Alchoran to wit in respect of the Magistrates commaund being farre from thinking in their hearts that any of them containeth the worship of God which they affirme to be onely inward and not in any outward obseruation whatsoeuer wherein they are most notable dissemblers in making men beleeue they respect that which they doe not And what a defamation is it vnto the Common prayer Booke and the rest that they affirme much of this new Light to be contained therein Is any such thing contained in any of these Bookes as that men euer had or can haue One Nature Being Life order and Spirit with God That God is all that Man is and that man is all that God is That Christ is the Perfection in the louely being whereunto H. N. and his fellow Elders doe attaine That Regeneration or the true Baptisme is the captiuating of men into H. Ns loue and her seruice That the Resurrection of the dead is the rising to H. Ns Doctrine That the Eternall iudgement is in this Day of the Loue of H. N and the life euerlasting the liuing in the Doctrine of H. N. after which there is no life more to bee waited for That any Idoll may haue all reuerence performed to it with the body that a man being tempted to any sinne if vpon crying helpe come not hee is free from the transgressing though he commit the fact That in this Citty or Communialty there is no more euill nor euill suspition nor yet sight of euill in them For within the same one doth neither see nor thinke any thing but all good c. That this Family should make manifest their whole heart with all their counsels mindes willes and thoughts together with all their doings 1. Exhor cap. 13. sect 12. dealings and exercises naked and bare before the Eldest in the Family of Loue and not couer nor hide any thing be it what it is before him also all whereunto their inclination kinde and nature draweth them vnto and all wherewith they become tempted or assaulted in their hearts And in their louely society Spirit land Cap. 37. sect 3. they doe not vow or binde themselues in the matrimony of men nor yet suffer themselues to be bound therein but are like the Angels of Heauen And there is no man that claymeth any thing to bee his owne as to possesse the same to his owne priuate vse for no man and that out of euery ones good disposition can desire any thing to bee his owne or yet to make any thing proper to himselfe from another But also whatsoeuer is there is free and is left free in his vpright forme There is also no man denyed to vse any thing in freedome of all that is profitable and needfull for him for they stand all in equity as one in the Loue c. Oh who would haue thought that so many abhominations had lurked in this wicked Family though alas these bee not all that are knowne and how many moe are vnknowne Pro. of H.N. Cap. 22. sect 16. and keepe secrets from vnbeleeuers men may imagine by H. Ns teaching his fellow Elders not to reueale their secrets no not to their owne young ones This is H. Ns. light brought into the world in these latter times but wee hope none of this new light or rather darknes will be sheltred in the Cōmon prayer Booke It will not patronage any of these fearefull blasphemies and therefore the hypocriticall boldnes of these Familists will haue little thankes for this their affirmation but before they come to this Light obserue what they must doe Looke who so will know these thinges must depart from all the wisdome of the Learned from the steps of the graue Fathers and from the religious walkings of all the Deuout persons euen all the knowledge men haue must away by little and little from euery one that shall be saued M. P. burning light cap. 7. sect 23 but before a Wise man can let slip all there must rise many agonies anguishes striuings and Earthquakes c. For before the Truth shall appeare the Destroyer must come and make all waste All light of Truth must bee put out before they can come to these thinges Oh fearefull wickednes Tenthly yee are voyde of the Christian Faith Answ OF the Faith of H. Ns. Christ we confesse our selues vtterly voide and doe blesse our God for the same but wee hauing manifested our Faith in the true Christ none will iudge vs to be voyde thereof but Atheisticall Familists Eleauenthly yee seperate from the holy Catholike Church Answ FIrst let it be obserued what these Familists iudge of all that beleeue not the Loue. Thus they write All such as beleeue not the Loue nor are Baptised into the name of the Father it is not meete to account such vnbeleeuers and vnbaptised ones for Christians at whose hands wee should looke for any word of truth let them esteeme themselues as holy as they will they are a false Christianity and deuillish Synagogue or Schoole now this being their censure of all but themselues If they meane the holy Catholike Church to be the Family of Loue as indeed H. N. saith then we must beare this accusation For as wee neuer were of it so we purpose to be deuided from it for euer If they meane any
other Assembly how are they confounded to call that the holy Catholike Church in one place which in another place they call a false Christianity and a deuillish Synagogue or Schoole can the Deuils Synagogue be a holy Church But if the Family or any other bee a deuillish Synagogue Gods people are commaunded to seperate from them in all Spirituall fellowship Seperate your selues from this froward generation Act. 2.40 haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull works of darknes Ephe. 5.11 1. Cor. 10.20 I would not yee should haue fellowship with Deuils in the Sacrifices of the Gentiles What fellowship hath Christ with the Deuill the Beleeeuer with the vnbeleeuer the Temple of God with Idols Therefore seperate your selues saith the Lord touch no vncleane thing and I will receiue you 2. Cor. 6.14 c. and bee a God and Father vnto you and yee shall be my Sonnes and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty Thus is seperation lawfull till they haue proued that to be the Church of Christ which they say we seperate from which we trust they shall neuer haue cause to accuse vs of Twelthly there is not any one of you that is a new Creature Answ VVHat H. Ns new Creature is all may perceiue where hee saith Crying voyce Cap. vil sect 11. For to become washed in the Loue with her pure water is the vpright washing and the true font of the Regeneration or new Birth And the second Birth out of the Holy Ghost is in the Oldnesse of time whē the dayes of the patience of Christ in the obedience of the holy and Gracious word Exhort 1. Cap. 7. sect 29.31 and her seruice of Loue are fulfilled that then the holy Ghost becōmeth powred forth through Iesus Christ ouer them all that haue followed Christ in the Death of his Crosse obediently and haue kept his Doctrine namely H. Ns with the word of his patience euen vnto the end which is euery where taught in his tedious and intricate writings the estate of Perfection in the loue or Doctrine of this deceiuer For he saith The second Birth which is not minded according to the Flesh but according to the Spirit of the heauenly Truth obtaineth the victory beareth rule with God and bringeth forth the Name of Israell or Christ it selfe as before hath beene related vpon another occasion This their Godded estate is their second birth or new Creature which we doe much abhorre and therfore no maruaile if they say of vs that not any one of vs are new creatures But such new creatures as the sacred Scriptures speaketh of that we imbrace and follow after that being sometimes foolish disobedient deceiued seruing diuers lusts and pleasures liuing in malice and enuy hatefull and hating one another but after that the kindnesse and loue of God our Sauiour towards man appeared Tit. 3.3.4.5 not by the workes of righteousnes which wee had done but according to his mercy he saued vs by the washing of Regeneration and renuing of the holy Ghost c. Hereby in a measure are wee new Creatures Rom. 6.13 not now giuing our members seruants of sinne nor taking pleasure in any vnrighteousnes as before wee did but endeauoring henceforth to giue our members seruants of righteousnes in Holines 2. Cor. 7.1 c. and to cleanse our selues of all filthinesse of Flesh and Spirit and to growe vp vnto perfect holinesse in the feare of God For our helpes herein hauing not onely the power of the Spirit of God in our hearts but also all those blessed rules in Christs Testament for the guidance of vs in the way of life in which estate of Regeneration some are Babes 1. Ioh. 2.12 c. some are Young-men and some may bee called Fathers in respect of a measure of perfection whereunto they may attaine onely through Christs perfection without whose perfection all mens perfection is imperfection through him all his Are able to doe all thinges Phil. 4.13 Ioh. 15.5 ◠without him they can doe nothing The weakest of his members are perfect with God through him the strongest are not perfect without him For onely through him the Father is well pleased and he is our Iustification 1. Cor. 1.30 and all in all vnto vs. But that any man can attaine vnto such an estate in this life as it is not possible for him to transgresse any Law of God by any meanes in thought word or deed wee leaue that deuillish Dreame with H. N. and his bewitched followers who account this the second Birth or new Creature The Apostles of Christ confessed the contrary Iam. 3.2 1. Ioh. 1.8 To these 12. supposed euils which in writing they haue taxed vs with we will adde a 13th which we had frō their mouthes and it is this 13. You obserue not the Commaundement giuen to the Woman and her seede Reuel 12. of flying into the Wildernes from the presence of the Serpent Answ THeir meaning is that wee are too open in our profession through the which we endure much misery for so they haue said vnto vs they would haue vs dissemble like themselues and saue our selues from troubles For M. P. who calleth himselfe that mighty Prince of the Hebrewes in his vertue of the Crosse corrected Thus he writeth It is written Cap. 3. sect 1 saying When they persecute you in this Citty flye into another that is whilest wee are yet weake not well able to beare the crosse we may doe as Peter did with mouth deny Christ but not in heart And much more of this stuffe he proceedeth in but in diuers places of the margent he writeth Hide secrets from the vnbeleeuers To whom wee may say as Christ said to Peter when hee disswaded him from Suffering Get thee behinde me Sathan thou art an offence vnto me Math. 16. thou vnderstandest not the thinges that are of God c. Are not Gods seruants the salt of the earth and the light of the world shall the light be put vnder a Bushell Math. 5.13 and not set on a Candlesticke Christ commands that what he said in Darknes that his should speake it in the Light and what they heard in the eare that they should Preach on the houses and not feare them that would kill the Body Math. 10. c. and after that could doe no more For he that is ashamed of Christ and his words Mark 8.38 amongst this Adulterous and sinfull generation of him shall the Sonne of man be ashamed when he commeth in the Glory of his Father with his holy Angels For as with the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnes so with the mouth he must confesse to saluation Rom. 10.10 If we suffer with Christ we shall raigne with Christ and if we deny him he will deny vs 2. Tim. 2.12 This the true Christ teacheth whom wee confesse and endeauour to serue But H. N. and the Families Christ teacheth them to saue themselues and rather
to dissemble if Authority command it then suffer any afflictions to the outward man abusing for his purpose this Scripture Blessed is the barren that beareth not c. As also that Christs yoake is easie and his burthen light And therefore bringeth not his to suffer persecution to the outward man but to doe any thing that Authority commaundeth whose grosse abhominations hath been formerly confuted and we trust our innocency defended against all the accusations of these Children of that olde accuser of the Brethren The Lord discouer their most palpable abhominations and deliuer poore simple soules from their snares Pro. 9.18 for assuredly the Dead are there and her guests are in the depth of Hell Conclusion IF these Familists or any that are not willing to be knowne to be of them doe except against any thing either by word or writing which is here written and say that we wrong them in alledging H. Ns. and the rest their hellish sayings and laying them vpon them we answer them many of these sayings are their owne and all the rest for any thing that we knowe for otherwise they would not disperse their Bookes if they did not approue of the Doctrine contained in them in all things that we know follow their course and we hartily beseech all that shall haue to deale with them that if they be ashamed of H. N. and this his new light or euerlasting Gospell which they so much glory of that they would require them by writing to be published to testifie their abhorring of these his wicked blasphemies otherwise they will not onely confirme all of their holding the same but also giue all occasion to iudge them to bee as they are dissembling hypocrites who hold thinges and yet endeauour to perswade people that they doe not holde them Let them testifie their abhorring 1. FIrst that which H. N. hath written of God That God and Man had one Order Spirit Nature and being that God was all that Man was and Man was all that God was 2. That Christ is the Perfection in the Louely being whereunto their Godded Elders doe attaine Or any power in man whereby hee can keepe the Law without Faith in the man Christ 3. That the true Baptisme is To bee in the loue and her Seruice 4. That the Resurrection of the Dead The Eternall Iudgement and the euerlasting life is in this life before the naturall Death of the body And that the Body commeth to nothing after Death 5. That they ought to prostrate their Bodyes before any Idoll or Idol-seruice at the Magistrates command keeping their hearts to God 6. That the Worship of God standeth not at all in any outward Ordinance or obseruation 7. That if one bee tempted to any Sinne and cry and there come no helpe hee or she is guiltlesse though they commit the Act. 8. That they doe not binde themselues in Matrimony of men nor yet suffer themselues to be bound therein but are like the Angels of Heauen 9. That they ought to confesse before the Eldest in the Family all their euill thoughts wordes and deedes whatsoeuer they be and all that their inclination and Nature draweth them vnto 10. That some of them are come vnto such a perfection that being Godded with God neither in thought word nor deed they can sinne any more 11. That no man maketh any thing his owne or proper to himselfe but all thinges whatsoeuer is in the Loue is free and is as one 12. That any that are ignorant though Idolaters and worshippers of Deuils and iustifying themselues therein may bee saued though they know not nor beleeue in the Blood of the man Christ 13. That H. N M. P. and the seruant of M. P. were raised vp of God to publish these thinges to the world in these latter dayes as an euerlasting Gospell All these thinges hath Henry Nicholas and his followers published being raised vp out of the infernall pit to the deceiuing of them that beleeue not the Truth which Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Eternall Father hath reuealed but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnes being of God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde that they might be damned If they testifie their abhorring of these thinges without scores euasion or mentall reseruation we shall be glad If not let them be content to be called his Disciples whose Discipline they maintaine Wee doe herein as we would be done vnto for we are content that any whatsoeuer shall aske vs a reason of our Faith in any thing and we will render it to them Now the Lord Iesus Christ the great and good Shepheard of his Sheepe disclose and destroy the lyes and snares of this Theefe and robber H. N. and his followers that the soules of all for whom Christ hath payed so deare a price may be deliuered from their destruction and be brought vnto and continued in his Folde to their Immortality of soule and body in Glory euerlasting By the same our Lord and Sauiour to whome with the Father and the blessed Spirit one Eternall and euerliuing God be Glory and Dominion now and for euer Amen PSAL. 111.104 By thy precepts J haue gotten vnderstanding therefore J hate all the wayes of falshood VERS 115. Away from me yee wicked for I will keepe the Commaundements of my God FINIS